ADMAT Opens its new "MAC" in Monte Cristi - September 2006

ADMAT's Maritime Archaeological Centre Opens in Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic.

ADMAT's Maritime Archaeological Centre after extensive works.

Press Release

ADMAT Opens a Maritime Archaeological Centre in Monte Cristi

ADMAT are delighted to announce that their Maritime Archaeological Centre in Monte Cristi is now open. ADMAT has taken a lease on a complex of large dilapidated buildings which they have just completed the first stage of refurbishment. The Centre is designed to house up to 8 students in bunk style accommodation and has around 12,000 sqft of conservation tanks as well as wet and dry lab space. The centre is almost self sufficient having mains power, full kitchen, diving station with compressor and tanks and conservation facilities. The conservation tanks currently hold many artefacts from the Tile Wreck as they are scientifically examined and documented.

The building was formally a shrimp farming project which had been empty for a decade or so. When we found the disused building it had no roof, no floors, no windows no doors no power cabling water and holes in the walls. After a number of months refurbishing the centre putting on new roof, creating new toilet, kitchen and lab facilities, it is now the office for ADMAT in the Dominican Republic. The Centre will be used as an operational base for the continued survey of the Tile Wreck and other sites in 2007, as ADMAT assists the Government in the preservation of their Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Photographs before the refurbishment:

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Looking at the rear of the accommodation building

Looking at the entrance to the tank building on the left.

Looking at the central drainage ditch of the exterior tanks

Looking at the lab entrance from the accommodation.

The "wet" lab area.

Lack of doors to all 14 doors of the lab.

The overgrown areas.

The end of the accommodation building.

The open gaps in the walls which will have to be filled.

New bathrooms and doors, windows and roof required.

The store room.

Store room and roofless accommodation.

Inside the accommodation area, in a shell condition.

The inside drainage channel for the tanks.

One of the usable tanks, just clean and add water.

The "wet" lab area.

The rear area.

The potential boardroom in the office area.

The future office area.

A new roof, walls and windows will be required.

Trees in the middle of the road.

The external perimeter wall in need of repair.

The rear drainage ditch which empties the interior tanks.

The rear view of the office area.

Free manure.

The rear drainage ditch, for empting the tanks.

Extensive overgrown areas.

After refurbishment:

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The new kitchen.

Fully functional kitchen and living area.

The kitchen looking towards one of the bunk rooms.

Dr. Spooner working hard with Isabella in support.

New security doors to the tank room.

The planting starts.

The store room washing facilities

The "wet" lab area.

The "wet" lab area, with artefacts waiting for recording.

Terracotta floor tiles from The Tile Wreck, waiting recording.

Tiles finished, with the recording process done.

Concretions from The Tile Wreck.

Inside the tank room.

The central section of inside conservation tanks.

Isabella.

Basil guarding the office area.

The external conservation tank drainage ditch.

Anchor One from The Tile Wreck being swung into the conservation tank.

Anchor Two from The Tile Wreck being lowered into position in the conservation tank.

Cannon Three from The Tile Wreck being lowered into place.

Dr. Francois Gendron happy that the Cannon Three is secured in the conservation tank.

Anchors Two and One from The Tile Wreck during a water change.

Anchor One from The Tile Wreck being photographed.

Fresh water to remove the saltsfrom the concretions.

Turtles and fish are used to remove algae from the water.

The sign writer starts his work.

Nearly finished.

Finished.